Panther Racing files suit against IndyCar, Rahal racing over Army National Guard sponsorship

INDIANAPOLIS – Panther Racing has filed a lawsuit against Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, IndyCar and others alleging it lost a $17.2 million sponsorship with the Army National Guard because of bid-rigging and other improprieties.

The lawsuit filed Feb. 19 in Marion County Court in Indianapolis follows a ruling in January by the U.S. Government Accountability Office denying Panther's appeal of moving the National Guard sponsorship to Graham Rahal's car for the upcoming IndyCar season.

Rahal racing officials said in a statement Friday that Panther is raising many of the same issues it raised with the GAO. A message seeking comment was left Friday for an IndyCar spokesman by The Associated Press.